A smart city is not defined solely by the use of technology or the presence of sensors, but by its ability to interpret the information it collects from the urban environment and use it to make decisions. Artificial Intelligence is the central axis that allows a city to function in a coordinated, efficient and sustainable manner. In this sense, AI acts as the ‘brain’ that allows large volumes of data to be transformed into concrete actions that improve the functioning of the city. Thanks to this capacity, cities can predict needs, anticipate incidents and adapt their services in real time.
Without AI, the smart city would not be able to learn, evolve or respond to changes in the environment automatically. It is this technology that converts data into useful knowledge to optimise resources.
What are the key applications?
AI has applications in virtually all urban areas, but due to its importance, we highlight the following sectors:
Smart mobility: using algorithms that regulate traffic lights according to traffic and recommend alternative routes, AI not only reduces congestion, fuel consumption and pollutant emissions, but also facilitates priority access to emergency services, such as police patrols, ambulances or fire engines, by optimising their routes and clearing their way when a critical situation is detected.
Energy and sustainability: predictive systems adjust electricity production and consumption, integrate renewable energies and reduce waste.
Service and waste management: waste collection, infrastructure maintenance and public lighting are planned according to actual needs, promoting efficiency and reducing costs.
Urban security: cameras and sensors, analysed using AI, identify abnormal patterns or risky situations, enabling faster responses in emergencies.
Together, AI provides the city with adaptive and predictive capabilities, two essential features for managing complex urban environments.
What are the benefits of this relationship?
The combination of AI and smart cities offers benefits on two levels:
On the one hand, public administrations can manage resources more efficiently, making decisions based on objective, real-time data rather than intuition. This translates into reduced costs, more transparent processes and better-executed urban policies.
On the other hand, citizens experience direct improvements: less traffic, cleaner air, personalised services, safer public spaces and simplified administrative procedures. The personalisation of services also makes it possible to offer information and recommendations tailored to the needs of each area. In addition, these technologies contribute to economic development by attracting technological investment and generating employment.
And what challenges might it face?
The advancement of AI-driven smart cities also poses key challenges.
The first is privacy, data protection and ethical use. The mass collection of information on mobility, behaviour or consumption can generate mistrust if there are no clear guarantees of anonymisation and responsible use.
It is also necessary to ensure ethics and transparency in algorithms, avoiding the reproduction of biases that could lead to unfair decisions between neighbourhoods or groups. Other important challenges include interoperability between different systems and platforms, cybersecurity against possible cyberattacks, and digital inclusion, ensuring that all citizens can benefit from smart services, regardless of their technological level or resources.
Would it be possible to develop smart cities without AI?
It would be possible to create digitised cities without AI, but they would not be fully smart. These cities could collect and display data, and even perform basic automation, but they would not have the ability to learn or adapt. The fundamental difference lies in the predictive and proactive capabilities offered by artificial intelligence.
Without AI, the city would react to problems after they occurred, based on pre-established data. With AI, problems can be anticipated and solved before they affect citizens. In this sense, AI is the engine of collective intelligence that allows cities to organise, evolve and transform themselves continuously.
What practical applications does this relationship have for citizens?
In everyday life, AI is already present in many services that make urban life more comfortable:
Mobility applications that provide real-time information on public transport.
Lighting systems that automatically adjust to the presence of pedestrians or vehicles.
Citizen service platforms with virtual assistants that streamline procedures.
Personalised air quality alerts by area.
These solutions are not always perceived as ‘AI’ by users, but they are based on models that continuously learn and optimise themselves. The ultimate goal is for the technology to become almost invisible, integrating naturally into the urban environment and making people’s lives easier without requiring any additional effort on their part.
